“I have taught you well, young grasshopper”

Here’s Tricia Newell checking in, a Senior Medical Writer with Complete Healthcare Communications and working in chilly New Zealand, reflecting on the cycle of life and passing on the passion for science.

It is nearing mid-day in chilly Dunedin, New Zealand as I take a bit of time to self-reflect on this year’s MedComms Day. I began my work day fairly early so that I can connect with my colleagues in the United States before their day ends. Today I am working on the first draft of a manuscript, but in a bit of a split shift day, I have an author teleconference late this evening to accommodate time zones in this truly global industry.This split shift works out well today, because it enables me to stick my nosy in my son’s science fair project, which has me exceptionally excited (obviously a science geek at heart as this is a milestone I have been anxiously waiting for). Rewind to the 80s and I am having some major déjà vu about my father imparting his love of science to me with some pretty wicked science fair projects (invariably related to weather and the environment as he is an environmental scientist). So dad, you’ve taught me well because this (once) young grasshopper is passing the science fair torch on to the next generation. Agar-nutrient Petri dishes, sterile swabs, and all means of negative and positive controls have been discussed as my young grasshopper and I get to bond over the scientific method and writing as he gets to work on his “Germ Warfare” science fair project. I cannot wait!

Below I’m the young scientist at work measuring snow fall (no easy feat in Toronto). I was really styling the fashions of the 80s tween set (and how I loved those highly impractical Cougar boots and dual functionality jacket with zip-off sleeves).